A man has been ordered to pay £700 compensation to a pal after throwing a glass which hit him on the face.

Paul Falconer was taken to hospital with blood pouring from a wound to his nose.

Peter Duffy, 31, a prisoner, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court on Friday.

He was accused of assaulting Mr Falconer by hurling the glass at him, but admitted a reduced charge of culpable or reckless conduct to severe injury.

An allegation that the victim suffered permanent disfigurement was deleted.

The court heard the incident happened at Mr Falconer’s home in Dyfrig Street, Shotts, on August 26 last year.

Paula Russell, prosecuting, said the men and their partners were drinking when a row started in the early hours of the morning.

She told the court: “Duffy became somewhat enraged and threw a glass which, unfortunately for Mr Falconer, struck him on the face and caused him to fall.

“He began bleeding heavily.

“Duffy left with his partner and an ambulance was called. Mr Falconer was taken to hospital where a cut to the bridge of his nose was treated with three sutures.”

Defence agent Diarmid Bruce said all parties had been drinking heavily, adding: “This was something out of nothing.”

Mr Bruce said that although his client has a significant criminal record his offending had “tailed off” in recent years.

Sheriff Ray Small told Duffy: “You have at least five previous convictions for assault, the most recent of which involved a bottle but I appreciate culpable and reckless conduct makes this case less serious.

“Had you been convicted of assault for this you would be facing a period of custody, but the Crown accepts that you threw a glass in a fit of temper which happened to strike Mr Falconer. In other words, it was not deliberate.”

Duffy, who had been in custody since his arrest, was put under supervision for 12 months.

He must do 150 hours of unpaid community work and pay the compensation to his victim within 10 months.